Born during WWII into a German family in New York City, Bill Diekmann grew up surrounded by immigrant families from all across Europe. His early interest in commercial aviation and his Aeronautical Engineering degree permitted him to travel around the world in that industry. While his writings were mostly technical reports and business contracts, he enjoyed using the written word to help create understanding and consensus. In retirement, writing tugged at him even more. Thus meeting Margherita Bertola Fray and learning of her desire to have the story of her unique experiences in the Italian Resistance put into print presented an opportunity to learn even more about recent European history and exercise his passion for writing. Bill lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Janine. Their daughter Kristen has a Marriage and Family Therapy practice in Manchester, Connecticut and her sister Adrienne is a musical theater maven in New York City.
In Scottsdale, Arizona there lives a unique treasure - Margherita Bertola Fray - one of the last survivors of the Italian Resistance that helped the Allies advance up the Italian peninsula to push the Nazis out of Italy during World War II. Her anti-Fascist family endured losses because of their opposition. Like all Italians, they suffered and were witness to the horrors of bombings, executions, and other brutalities perpetrated by home-grown and foreign aggressors. At 17, she became a member of the Garibaldi Brigade in Turin and participated in dangerous missions to support the underground fighters, often putting herself in harm's way for the good of others and for her country. Her life as an American war bride was challenging, but with the strengths from her upbringing and experiences in Italy, she carried on and is contented - except for the fact that up until now her story remained untold.